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A review by kcgarris
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i watched the miniseries before i read the book, and im glad i did. the book dives deeper into the psychology of the characters in a fascinating way and many of the scenes felt far more visceral in the book. my skin was crawling almost the entire time.
the story is a really fascinating dive into the culture of small southern towns like wind gap and it does an excellent job in portraying the residents of the town as performative in their grief. they care more about their town becoming famous, about the chance to have their name in print, than they are about the children who were murdered and adora’s blatant abuse. said abuse was never acknowledged in any meaningful way in an effort to keep from making waves, and as a result a little girl died.
amma might be the most fascinating character in this story. flynn does an excellent job of showing how abuse like adora’s can warp and damage a child. the line “a child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort” on page 251 i think is an excellent summation, and flynn does a wonderful job of showing this again and again from the moment we meet amma.
the pacing of the story is incredibly done, the story carries you almost seamlessly from scene to scene, from moment to moment, tense the entire time. will most definitely read again.
the story is a really fascinating dive into the culture of small southern towns like wind gap and it does an excellent job in portraying the residents of the town as performative in their grief. they care more about their town becoming famous, about the chance to have their name in print, than they are about the children who were murdered and adora’s blatant abuse. said abuse was never acknowledged in any meaningful way in an effort to keep from making waves, and as a result a little girl died.
amma might be the most fascinating character in this story. flynn does an excellent job of showing how abuse like adora’s can warp and damage a child. the line “a child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort” on page 251 i think is an excellent summation, and flynn does a wonderful job of showing this again and again from the moment we meet amma.
the pacing of the story is incredibly done, the story carries you almost seamlessly from scene to scene, from moment to moment, tense the entire time. will most definitely read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Blood, Child death, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Murder, Self harm, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Death, and Emotional abuse